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The culmination of a century-long dream to link the Great Lakes interior industrial hubs to the Atlantic Ocean, the St. Lawrence Seaway and Power Project stands as one of the largest and most important public works’ initiatives of the twentieth century. Seen as vital to North American commerce and strategic in advancing America’s position on the world stage, the billion dollar seaway and power dam were also a phenomenal feat of engineering involving an unprecedented level of cooperation between Canadian and American agencies and the unrelenting efforts of workers on both sides of the border. Dubbed the greatest construction show on earth, the largest waterway and hydro dam project ever jointly built by two nations consisted of seven locks, the widening of various canals, the taming of rapids, and the erection of the 3216-foot long, 195.5-foot high Robert Moses – Robert H. Saunders Power Dam. In this book, Claire Puccia Parham reveals the human side of the project in the words of its engineers, laborers, and carpenters. Drawing on firsthand accounts, she provides a vivid portrait of the lives of the men who built the seaway and the women who accompanied them. On the fiftieth anniversary of the dedication of the power dam and waterway, this book is a fitting tribute to the hard work and dedication of the project’s 22,000 workers.

Purpose On average, only 10 percent workers at construction sites are women. This percentage, however, is not due to a lack of interest or capacity, but to discrimination against women, sexual harassment and work safety. The purpose of this paper is to identify the main issues and current difficulties of women workers at construction sites, as well as good practices that might provide a better environment for them. Design/methodology/approach Interviews were carried out with workers and engineers who work/have worked at construction sites, to gather material for a discussion about the gender gap in this environment. The interviews were structured and analyzed around the following topics: acceptance, well-being, installations, gender perception and good practices. Findings The hiring of women usually occurs at the end of the construction period, which brings up the issue of sexual division of labor. Effects of the glass ceiling and the leaky pipeline phenomena were evident, as well as harassment, discrimination and sexism. Originality/value Studies about women in engineering have been become relative common, but studies about female workers on construction sites are still scarce. The women interviewed see themselves as warriors, symbolizing the gain of space within the construction sector and in society. It is hoped that the results can contribute to raising awareness about the benefits of gender mainstreaming at construction sites and to promote the health and well-being of women in these environments.

Background Patient‐centred care is now ubiquitous in health services research, and healthcare systems are moving ahead with patient‐centred care implementation. Yet, little is known about how healthcare employees, charged with implementing patient‐centred care, conceptualize what they are implementing. Objective To examine how hospital employees conceptualize patient‐centred care. Research Design We conducted qualitative interviews about patient‐centred care during site four visits, from January to April 2013. Subjects We interviewed 107 employees, including leadership, middle managers, front line providers and staff at four US Veteran Health Administration (VHA) medical centres leading VHA's patient‐centred care transformation. Measures Data were analysed using grounded thematic analysis. Findings were then mapped to established patient‐centred care constructs identified in the literature: taking a biopsychosocial perspective; viewing the patient‐as‐person; sharing power and responsibility; establishing a therapeutic alliance; and viewing the doctor‐as‐person. Results We identified three distinct conceptualizations: (i) those that were well aligned with established patient‐centred care constructs surrounding the clinical encounter; (ii) others that extended conceptualizations of patient‐centred care into the organizational culture, encompassing the entire patient‐experience; and (iii) still others that were poorly aligned with patient‐centred care constructs, reflecting more traditional patient care practices. Conclusions Patient‐centred care ideals have permeated into healthcare systems. Additionally, patient‐centred care has been expanded to encompass a cultural shift in care delivery, beginning with patients' experiences entering a facility. However, some healthcare employees, namely leadership, see patient‐centred care so broadly, it encompasses on‐going hospital initiatives, while others consider patient‐centred care as inherent to specific positions. These latter conceptualizations risk undermining patient‐centred care implementation by limiting transformational initiatives to specific providers or simply repackaging existing programmes.

The construction industries’ unsafe conditions require increased efforts to improve safety performance to prevent and reduce accident rates. Safety performance in the Iraqi construction industry is notoriously poor. Despite this condition, safety research has so far been neglected. Implementing a safety program is a proven initial step to improve safety. Therefore, the aim of this study is to identify the key elements of a safety program in the Iraqi construction industry. To verify and validate a list of safety program elements identified in the literature review, a mixed method approach was used by using interviews and questionnaire surveys. A final list of 25 elements were then analyzed using exploratory factor analysis. The analysis found that these elements can be grouped into four interrelated dimensions: management commitment and employee involvement, worksite analysis, hazard prevention and control systems, and safety and health training. This study contributes to the body of knowledge on safety in the Iraqi construction sector, a research area which has not been adequately investigated previously. They also help decision-makers focus on key elements that are needed to start improving safety performance in this context.

Although theory refers to organizational culture as an important variable in corrupt organizations, only little empirical research has addressed the characteristics of a corrupt organizational culture. Besides some characteristics that go hand in hand with unethical behavior and other features of corrupt organizations, we are still not able to describe a corrupt organizational culture in terms of its underlying assumptions, values, and norms. With a qualitative approach, we studied similarities of organizational culture across different corrupt organizations. In this study, we performed content analysis on interviews of 14 independent experts about their experience with corrupt organizations. With this approach, we gained insights about different corrupt organizations spanning different branches (e.g., government, foreign trade, pharmacy, sports, building industry). We found that corrupt organizations perceive themselves to fight in a war, which leads to their taken-for-granted assumption that \"the end justifies the means\". This assumption inspires many values and norms of the organizational culture. An important value in a corrupt organization is \"security\", and an important norm is punishment of deviant (i.e., non-corrupt) behavior. Furthermore, managers and employees differ in their perception of organizational culture. While the management endorses values, such as success, results, and performance, and implements these values in their norms of goal setting, employees make use of rationalization strategies and endorse values of security and team spirit.

Background In many countries, including Canada, employers have a legal obligation to provide training programs to the new workers to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). However, current safety and health training modalities, including those specific to ergonomic and MSD prevention, have shown limited success in promoting safe motions patterns. As workers gain more experience, they develop the knowledge and skills necessary to consistently demonstrate safer and more productive performance in tasks within their areas of expertise compared to novices and apprentices. Training apprentices using expert work strategies is a potential intervention that can reduce MSD risk while balancing productivity needs. By understanding the perspectives of experts in the field, we investigate the specific needs of masonry workers and their employers to improve masons’ safety and health. Methods This study conducted qualitative user interviews with eight masonry instructors with more than 20 years of experiences from the Ontario Masonry Training Centre. The eight instructors had an average of 23.9 years of experience as masons with a range between 10- and 43-years. As instructors, they had an average of 6.9 years’ experience with a range between 1.5- and 18-years. Results Thematic analysis using template methodology was carried out on the data collected and identified six key themes: knowledge of muscle injury risks and prevention, safety in masonry, physical demands and MSD risk, the impact of physical demands, safety culture and attitudes, and the role of safety in apprentice training. The instructors’ exposure to high physical demands within masonry was a major theme during the interviews. Instructors discussed the high forces, repetition and awkward postures which take a toll on their bodies. Another large theme was about the safety culture and attitudes within the trade. Younger apprentices often think themselves invincible and show less concern towards musculoskeletal safety, whereas the older masons are more concerned. Conclusion The findings highlight the need for apprenticeship training programs to include modules on safe lifting practices, ergonomic awareness, and long-term injury prevention. They also emphasize the importance of mentorship from experienced masons, structured rehabilitation support after injuries, and connecting ergonomic practices to productivity outcomes. Instructors’ perspectives provide valuable context to guide the development of ergonomic training systems that are both relevant to masonry work and tailored to the needs of apprentices and their employers.

In the face of rampant urbanization, industrialization, and continuous advancements in construction technology, sustainable development in the construction industry becomes increasingly imperative. A promising avenue toward this sustainability is through the adoption of Recycled Construction Materials (RCMs), yet their widespread use remains complex and filled with numerous barriers, signifying an urgent need for the systematic investigation of these obstacles. This study uniquely employs a qualitative PEST (Political, Economic, Social, and Technological) analysis to illuminate the intricate impediments to the adoption and promotion of RCMs. Data for this study were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with a variety of experts in the field. The research identifies substantial barriers within each PEST category. Political factors include regulatory biases and limited funding for RCM research, while economic factors involve the higher costs and limited availability of RCMs. Social aspects revolve around public awareness, safety concerns, and resistance to change within the industry. Technological issues focus on the development, performance, and compatibility of RCMs, the slow innovation pace, and the absence of standardized guidelines. Additionally, this study stands out by suggesting strategic, context-specific recommendations aimed at surmounting these obstacles and further fostering the adoption of RCMs. The solutions proposed are intimately linked to the challenges identified, highlighting the practical value and relevance of this study for guiding future research and policy development in the face of ongoing advancements in construction technology.

Background Cooperation between China and Africa is deepening, and business, trade, and people-to-people exchanges are growing closer together, especially in the infrastructure construction field. At the same time, malaria has become a serious health concern for Chinese construction workers in Africa, who are at increased risk of infection and complications due to lack of immunity and exposure to high-transmission environments. One of the biggest challenges in fighting malaria is their lack of knowledge and misinterpretations about the disease, which can impact their need for interventions, adherence to treatments, and health services. This study aims to determine the perception and interpretation of malaria among Chinese construction workers in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 Chinese construction workers in sub-Saharan Africa. Some early respondents initially made contact through two Chinese construction companies in Africa, while the rest of the participants were engaged via a snowball method by the early participants. NVivo10, a qualitative research data management software and a thematic approach, was used to analyze the data and create themes. In order to achieve the general study goals, an inductive content analysis was applied. Results The study classified participants' perceptions and interpretations of malaria into four categories: flu-like malaria, the rumors of malaria, the hard-to-explain confusion about malaria, and the special interpretation of malaria. Conclusion Malaria poses major health issues to Chinese construction workers in sub-Saharan Africa who lack immunity and live in an environment of high transmission. Their dearth of awareness and misunderstanding of malaria impacts their prevention and treatment behaviors and health outcomes. This study adopts qualitative methods to examine their perceptions and interpretations of malaria, which can serve as a source for future health management strategies.

Construction is a manual, heavy, and complex sector concerning the most fatal accidents and high incidence of occupational illnesses and injuries resulting in days away from work. In Hong Kong, “Pilot Medical Examination Scheme for Construction Workers” was launched in 2014 to detect the health problems of their construction workforce. All registered workers under the Construction Workers Registration Board are eligible to join the scheme. The purpose of this paper is to assess the physical condition, physiological status, and musculoskeletal disorders of 942 construction workers in Hong Kong. This study adopted a two-phase design, which includes a basic medical examination to measure the workers’ physiological parameters, such as blood pressure, resting heart rate, glucose, cholesterol, uric acid, liver function test, and renal function test; as well as a face-to-face interview following the medical examination to collect their demographic information and pain experience. Individual characteristics, including gender, age, obesity, alcohol drinking habit, and sleeping habit influenced the health condition of construction workers. Among the participants, 36.1% and 6.5% of them were overweight and obese, respectively. In addition, 43.0%, 38.4%, 16.2%, and 13.9% of the participants exceeded the thresholds of cholesterol, blood pressure, urea nitrogen, and uric urea, correspondingly. Moreover, 41.0% of the participants suffered musculoskeletal pain, where the most frequent painful parts occur in the lower back, shoulder, knees, leg, and neck. Through these findings, a series of important issues that need to be addressed is pointed out in terms of maintaining the physical well-being and reducing musculoskeletal disorders of construction workers. The finding may have implications for formulating proper intervention strategies for the sustainable development of Hong Kong’s construction industry.